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Cuyahoga County medical examiner to testify in U.S. Senate hearing on synthetic opiates

Posted May 22, 2017 at 7:03 PM

Dr. Thomas Gilson

Dr. Thomas P. Gilson, Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner, seen here in this January 2017 photo, was invited to speak at a U.S. Senate hearing Thursday to discuss the rise of synthetic opiate use across the country.
(David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson is scheduled to speak in front of a U.S. Senate committee Thursday to talk about the country's growing issue with synthetic opiates.

Ohio GOP Senator Rob Portman and Tom Carper (D-DE) are hosting the public hearing in front of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, a news release from Sen. Portman's office states. The hearing will consist of two panels of experts discussing the country's current strategy to prevent synthetic opioids - like fentanyl - from coming into the U.S.

The hearing plans to touch on weaknesses of international mailing standards, particularly China's ability to ship synthetic opioids into the country through the U.S. Postal Service. Sen. Portman has introduced bipartisan legislation that would address and fix these weak spots, the release states.

Gilson will speak as a part of the second panel, which is formed by medical professionals from Boston and Wilmington, Delaware. Newtown, Ohio's police chief will also speak on the panel, the news release says.